Sunday, November 20, 2016

SINKING OF THE VICTORIA

HMS Victoria.

HMS Victoria after collision.

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 30,
1893.

PAGE FOUR—EDITORIALS.

The Sinking of the Victoria.

The latest account by survivors of the scene
when the British battleship, Victoria, sunk to the bottom of the sea, carrying all
on board beneath the water, is horrible in every aspect. Here is a description of
it:—

"The untangling and the getting under
full headway had taken some little time. About ten minutes after the blow the
Victoria, having got something like two miles nearer shore from the scene of
the collision, all at once leaned away over the starboard, and with a great
roll and plunge buried her bow beneath the calm surface of the sea. It was
almost instantaneous. There was only a chance for a few wild cries and the Victoria was almost half submerged, bow foremost, with her swiftly-revolving
screws whirring clear of the water and high in the air. Those on deck were plunged
immediately into the water. The men forward and below had no time to rush to
the deck, but found themselves groping for doors of rooms filled with water and
compressed air. There was a little more time for those in the officer's
quarters. They heard the shouts and warning cries and rushed to the almost
perpendicular deck.

"The huge hull was drawing in the water
as it went down and several hundred men hurled suddenly into the water, fully dressed,
had to battle against the increasing suction. A moment more and a new peril
more horrible descended upon them. The great engine deep in the heart of the
hull and inclosed in water-tight compartments was still throbbing at full
speed, and the great steel flanges of the twin screws were whirling round up in
the air. As the vessel sank the screws came nearer and nearer to the water and
descended into the midst of struggling human beings. The vessel sank slowly,
and when the screws were low enough to begin to whirl in the water again the
suction had increased until there was a deepening vortex like a maelstrom. At
the bottom of this maelstrom the screws were revolving like circular knives.
The poor creatures battled in vain against the suction. They were drawn down
and thrown against the swift blades.

"Then came a scene which made the officers
on the decks of the other war ships of the fleet turn away, sick with horror.
Screams and shrieks arose, and in the white foam appeared reddened arms and legs
and wrenched and torn bodies. Headless trunks were tossed out of the vortex to linger
a moment on the surface and sink out ofsight.

"All within reach of that vortex lost
their presence of mind. Men who knew how to swim ceased swimming and fought
with the waters. Men struck each other in frenzy and struck each other off. The
deep cone of whirling water with the swift knives chopping human bodies at the
bottom of it was a horror to daunt the bravest. One man who escaped said that
he saw in this great vortex at least fifty of his fellows fighting with each
other and with inevitable death. In a moment or so the knives disappeared and
the vortex began to close up. The ship was beneath the surface just as the
whirl was shallowed [sic] almost to the surface.

"Then there was a muffled sound of
thunder, the waters were tossed up and steam burst from them. Again the shrieks
and screams burst from the swimmers. The boilers had exploded, the sea had
rushed into the furnaces and the swimmers were beating waves of scalding water.
Thus in less than ten minutes death in three awful forms attacked the officials
and crew of the Victoria—death by drowning, death from the knife-like screws
and death by scalding water.

"With the first under plunge of the
Victoria all the boats were called away from all the other ships and came
straining over the calm sea to save the strugglers. These boats were soon
picking up the fortunate ones who had got out of reach of the terrible vortex.
So long as the vortex was there the boats dared not venture near, but they did
lift from the waters several wretched sailors who were horribly burned. It is
thought that more than half of those drowned got out of the ship, but were
caught in the vortex or scalded to death by the boiling water.

"Two hundred and ninety of the crew were
saved. More than 700 were aboard."

STRUCK
BY AN ENGINE.

Mr. E.
O. Rickard's Experience with the Engine of a Fast Passenger Train.

Last Monday morning, just as the south bound
passenger train on the D., L. & W. was coming into the station, people on
the platform of the depot saw Mr. E. O. Rickard coming up Railroad-st. from the
east at a rapid pace. A box car hid the train from the north from his view and
his attention was entirely taken up watching the 9:58 train coming from the
south. Some of those who saw him as he was about to cross the track, shouted to
him to stop, but he evidently did not hear them and came on. Just before he
reached the platform, the cow-catcher struck him and tossed him high in the
air. When he came down his head struck the edge of the platform putting a deep
gash over his left eye. He fell in the narrow space between the rail and
platform and the train passed on. He was lifted out by Mr. E. S. Burrowes in an
insensible condition, but soon recovered and was taken to his home on Clinton-ave.
in a carriage and Dr. C. E. Bennett called. An examination disclosed the fact that
no bones were broken, but he was badly bruised about the legs and hips. Those
who saw the accident thought he was surely killed as the train was running rapidly.

Some months since [ago] the trustees of the
village appointed a committee to take the proper measures to compel the railroad
company to place gates at the crossings on Port
Watson, Railroad, Elm-st., and Clinton-ave., but it cannot be learned that anything
has yet been done in the premises. Those crossings are all very dangerous and every
safeguard possible should be adopted to prevent accidents. The proceeding to compel
the company to place gates at these crossings is by no means an intricate one, and
the committee ought to take the proper steps at once before some more serious
accident happens.

Run on a
Bank.

Thursday morning soon after the opening of
the Cortland Savings bank, somewhat of a crowd of more or less excited people
from McGrawville, crowded to the counter of the bank and called for their deposits.
They were promptly accommodated with the money. The rumor that there was a run
on the bank soon spread and anxious depositors in this place swelled the throng
and some of them withdrew their deposits, while many others, as soon as they
learned the facts, went home con tented without calling for their money.

Several of our wealthiest citizens offered
to and did guarantee the deposits of those who were uneasy. In the afternoon
perfect confidence was restored and the excitement entirely subsided. The
entire trouble, it is understood, was started by a foolish remark made by a
citizen of McGrawville in a public place. We repeat the Cortland Savings bank
is one of the soundest institutions of the kind in the state.

Reunion
of the 185th Regiment.

As previously announced in the DEMOCRAT, the
annual reunion of the 185th Regiment
took place at Floral Trout Park in this village, last Friday. The regiment was
mustered into service September 23, 1864, ten companies with one hundred men and
was raised principally in Onondaga and Cortland counties. Company E, Capt.
Robert P. Bush, was raised in Homer. Company F, Capt. John W. Strowbridge, was raised
in Cortland and company G, Capt. A. H. Barber, was raised in Marathon. The other
seven companies were raised in Onondaga county. The company [sic] left
Syracuse, the same day they were mustered in, for City Point, Va., and soon saw
active service. They participated in the battles of Burgees Forks, Hicksford
Raid, Hatchs' Run, Watkin's Farm, Quaker Road, Gravelly Run, Five Forks, Fall
of Petersburg and Appomatox. Col. E. S. Jenney of Syracuse commanded the
regiment with the following officers Lieut. Col. Gustavus Sniper;Major, John Lee; Adjutant, Byron Mudge;
Quartermaster, William Gilbert; Surgeon, Chas. W. Crary; Assistant Surgeons,
Gilbert C. Newcomb and William M. Bradford; Chaplain, Chester W. Hawley. A
large delegation from Onondaga county attended the reunion.

The business meeting was held at 2 o'clock,
President O. C. Smith of this place, in the chair. A committee was appointed on
nominations for the ensuing year. While the committee was out, letters were read
from prominent officers, and Judge Eggleston being called for delivered a neat
speech. The committee reported the following list of officers, who were elected
and installed:

Addresses were made by several of the
officers of the regiment and the thanks of the association were tendered to the
ladies of Cortland who served dinner and to the press of both counties for
giving them free advertising. It was voted to have a new history of the
regiment printed, and $10 was voted the Secretary to pay for postage and
stationery used in gathering statistics. Mr. O. C. Smith will have the matter
in charge.

On motion the meeting adjourned to meet in
Baldwinsville one year from date.

Shall We
Have Sewers?

The citizens of this village will be called upon
next Thursday to vote upon this important question. The particulars regarding the
same have been furnished by competent engineers and may be found compiled in
the notice of election which has been published in the DEMOCRAT for the past
three weeks. The figures for the work are much less than we had supposed the
work could be done for, but we understand from authentic sources, that there
never was a time when the job could be done for so little money as the present.
Some few have objected to raising the money by a general tax, but we think the
criticism is not well founded. Most of the streets are included in the present
estimate and when the few that are not included are to have sewers, the money
to pay for them will be raised by general tax. A tax upon the neighboring
property is always a hard tax to levy without doing an injustice to many, and
the collection of the tax almost invariably produces litigation that can be
avoided by a general tax.

The health of the people of our handsome
village is the most important proposition to be considered in connection with
sewerage. A town of nearly 10,000 inhabitants ought certainly to be provided
with some means of ridding itself of the filth and garbage that must be
collected in its streets, out-houses and cess pools. The fact that Cortland has
been tolerably free from malarial and other diseases caused by filth in the
past, is no guarantee that this state of things will continue. An ounce of
prevention at this time may save a pound of cure in the near future.

The bonds of the village can be sold at a
very low rate of interest, with a long time to mature, so that a late
generation may have the privilege of helping to pay for some of the privilege
we shall enjoy, if the system is adopted. The yearly interest on the bonds will
amount to very little, if any more, than the sum spent every year in drawing
dirt on the streets of the village and drawing it out the next year.

Putting in sewers is a permanent improvement
that is of incalculable benefit to the town. Every real estate owner will find
his property greatly advanced in value while he will not realize that his taxes
have been increased, the per cent is so small.

We hope to
see a full expression of the people's will upon this subject next week, and we
believe that there are enterprising people enough in this village to carry this
important measure by a handsome majority.

He Took
Three-Fourths of an Ounce of Opium.

Ed. Phillips, who resides on the King farm in
Preble, (called the Fanning farm) has for some time back acted strange. He got
the idea in his mind that his wife did not have the affection for him that he
wished she had, and left home once saying he would not return, but he soon
returned.

Last Friday he told his wife if she would
say she loved him he would go to work and everything would be all right, but if
she did not say so, he had some opium and he would take it and kill himself and
he wanted her to kiss him, but she refused, and after some time talking on the subject,
and she refusing to say what he requested her to say, he took three-fourths of
an ounce of opium.

Dr. Hunt of Preble and Dr. Dwinelle of Tully
were called and by administering belladonna and outside friction on the surface
of the body, with an all night labor, his life was saved for the present. His
wife at first was going to put a stop to the outside treatment, but the doctors
told her they knew what was proper to do, and they were going to do as they judged
was right and she might as well keep still for they had the responsibility and
not her. Through their skill and hard labor be was brought through, although he
was near death many times during the night.

Saturday afternoon he ran away through the
lots and claimed some one was after him (the hired man, Noah Aldrich) and
brought up at Chester Aldrich's, and in the evening Noah and Dave Foltz came after
him and brought him home. Sunday he escaped again, running by John Curries.
Jude tried to stop him, but he ran like a wild man; Jude got on a horse, but
lost sight of him and thought he must have ran into the woods. [sic.]

HERE AND
THERE.

T. V. Powderly is to deliver the address on
the Inter-State Fair grounds [Elmira] on Labor Day.

W. S. Freer gives an Independence party at
his hall in Higginsville next Monday evening.

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will picnic
at Tully Lake Park, July 12. Round trip 80 cents.

The "Loyal Circle" of Kings
Daughter's will meet in their rooms, Saturday, July 1st, at 2:30 P. M.

Workmen have commenced excavating for the
new Baptist chapel on the corner of Tompkins and Duane-sts.

Col. Daniel Boon and his trained lions will
appear upon the open track, as one of the attractions at the Inter-State Fair.

The working dairy of the Inter-State Fair
will occupy a building 50x86 feet. It will be one of the most complete exhibits
of the kind ever made.

Any young couple, desirous of a balloon wedding
trip, can reap considerable pecuniary advantage by addressing the Inter-State
Fair Management at Elmira.

A new fountain has been placed on the corner
of Clinton-ave., and Main-st. The party that broke the old one pays $50 towards
the purchase of the new one.

An Independence party will be given at the
Scott hotel in Scott, on Tuesday evening, July 4. Music by Clark's full
orchestra. Bill $1.25. Bert Johnson, proprietor.

The sum of $200 is still due on the purchase
of the new instruments for the Cortland City band. It ought not to take long to
raise this amount and those of our citizens who can should at once forward and donate
as much as they can severally spare.

During the storm on Thursday afternoon last
lightning struck a new barn at 233 Tompkins st., belonging to Ezra Hough, tearing
off the roof boards and throwing them some distance away. Some men were
standing in the open door of a barn adjoining and one of them who stood under a
heavy log chain was knocked down and did not recover for an hour.

The Cortland County Grangers held their
annual picnic at Floral Trout Park, last Thursday afternoon. There were at least
600 present. The McGrawville band furnished music. After dinner addresses were
delivered by Mr. C. B. Bean of McGrawville and Rev. C. E. Hamilton of Cortland.
Hon. W. C. Gilford of Jamestown, master of the state grange, delivered the
principal address.

The seventh annual temperance picnic will be
held at Floral Trout Park, July 4. Annual
address to be given by Mrs. Carrie Lane Chapman, who is justly styled the "Gattling
Gun of the west." Her arguments are commingled with story, anecdote and
humor. No one should fail to hear her. Appropriate and patriotic music will be
furnished for the occasion. Every temperance person is invited and expected to
be present.

Cholera
Remedies.

The best formula for cholera, and all looseness
of the bowels, sanctioned by the New York
Board of Health, and used in the New York Hospital for many years, is the
following which is sometimes termed the "Sundfixture:"

1 oz.
tinct. African cayenne.

1 oz. opium
tinct.

1 oz.
tinct. rhubarb.

1 oz.
essence peppermint.

1 oz.
spirits camphor.

Dose for adults, every 20 minutes until relieved,
15 to 30 drops in water.

The following has been adapted by the London
Board of Health, and been used all over Europe as the best remedy for Asiatic
cholera, cholera morbus, etc.:

3 drs.
aromatic powder.

1 dr. tinct.
opium.

10 drs.
tinct. catecba.

6 drs. comp.
tinct. cardomon.

Chalk mixture sufficient to make up 20 ounces
in all.

Dose for an adult, 1 oz.; for a child 12 years,
1/2 oz.; for a 7 years old, 1/4 oz., after each liquid motion. One of these
remedies